Watch these dancers perform an incredible synchronized 'hand ballet' at the Tokyo Paralympics

The Paralympics is an international sporting event that involves athletes with various physical disabilities. The months-long event also employs other people with disabilities to perform in the opening and closing ceremonies. The last Paralympics was held in 2020 in Tokyo and had the most beautiful closing ceremony. It included a range of performances that were spectacular but were not widely known or recognized. 

Recently, a Twitter user, Imani Barbarin came across a beautiful dance sequence from the closing ceremony. She posted the video on Twitter and wrote, "How come I’ve never seen this video before? My mom just sent it to me. They’re dancers in wheelchairs dancing with arm movements during the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics." The video explains that a French choreographer, Sadeck Waff, led a beautiful hand ballet.

During this beautiful performance, about 128 people in wheelchairs used their hands and arms to create perfectly synchronized movements. Every performer can be seen wearing a black shirt except Sadeck, to highlight the geometric sequences of the segment. Yoann Lemoine, a French singer-songwriter, created the music for the routine, which was performed by the Orchestre National de France, per The Indian Express. 

Oxandre Peku, 12, began the dance performance as the first person in France to get a 3D-printed prosthetic "Hero Arm." Following Peku's appearance, the emphasis shifted to the performers in a wheelchair. In the last portion of the dance, the performers formed the word "2024" with their hands in honor of the future Paralympic Games in France in 2024. 

While not the same routine, Sadeck's Paralympic choreography is similar to several of his previous routines. His Murmuration Project 64, for instance, has some of the same tense arm movements as the games. It was prompted by a swarm of starlings, per My Modern Met. He writes, "There is magic everywhere, the key is knowing how to look, know how to see and listen in silence. like a cloud of birds forming waves in the sky, each individual has his own identity, but an irreplaceable place in the whole."

People were absolutely mesmerized to see this beautiful ballet with one Twitter user commenting, "This needs to become a thing… ASAP!! More and more creative forms of disabled dancing, please! It’s be SO cool to see sign language dances!"

Another noted, "Because except for the 1 or 2 special folks the media chooses to highlight, the Paralympics doesn't get the same shine as the Olympics. It's mostly online if it's covered at all." A Third user said, "Thanks for sharing this video! It's enthralling."

The video was reposted by several other Twitter users including the former American basketball player, Rex Chapman. He posted the video with the caption, "128 performers in wheelchairs. French choreographer Sadek Waff leads a mesmerizing hand ballet during the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics." His tweet has received almost 30k likes and over 5000 retweets. A Twitter user commented, "if only the networks would air the Paralympics the same as the Olympics, we wouldn't be finding this 2 years later."

Another added, "Wow this is so beautiful. I couldn’t quit watching. Then on my 3rd time, I noticed it said 2024 at the end! So I was watching again and then right before 2024 I noticed it said Paris n then 2024. Wow just Wow, simply amazing."

The preparations for Paralympic Games 2024 in France are underway. Recently, the organizing committee has revealed that the opening show for the event will not be held in a stadium but rather in the open in the French capital's heart, on the Champs-Elysées boulevard and the city's biggest square, Place de la Concorde, reports The Bridge. "This festival of inclusion all begins with the truly unique experience of thousands of Paralympians parading down the world's most famous avenue," said the organizers.

The games will be held between 28 August to 8 September 2024.